The efficacy of victim services programs: alleviating the psychological suffering of crime victims?

Author(s)

Sims, Barbara, Yost, Berwood, and Abbott, Christina

Title

The efficacy of victim services programs: alleviating the psychological suffering of crime victims?

Source

Criminal Justice Policy Review, Dec 2006; vol. 17: pp. 387 - 406
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Date

2006

Document type

Journal article

Coverage

Pennsylvania, USA

Summary

This study evaluates victim services programs in Pennsylvania in which differences between users and nonusers of victim services by crime victims were examined in regard to alleviating psychological distress. The first stage of the study was to compile an inventory of current victim services in the State and the second stage was to conduct telephone interviews with crime victims. Limitations of the study were identified, including no evaluation of the quality of the services provided and a small sample of crime victims. One important finding of this study was that no significant differences between users and nonusers of victim services were found in regards to psychological functioning of the victims.